Roller-skate.



H. P. VOSSELLER.

ROLLER SKATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1909.

964,825, Patented July 19, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. P. VOSSBLLER.

ROLLER SKATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1909.

964,825, Patented July 19, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

slide.

HENRY P. YOSSELLER, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

ROLLER-SKATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Application filed September 4, 1909. Serial No. 516,278.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, HENRY P. VOSSELLER, acitizen of the United States of America, and resident of Plainfield, in the county of Unionand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to roller skates and more particularly to extension skates having a toe plate and a heel plate each carrying a roller truck, slidable endwise with respect to each other, and capable of being clamped in any desired position of adjustment. In skates of this character a common and serious defect has been the buckling of the middle part of the skate which in such skates as ordinarily constructed is insutliciently supported. This difficulty occurs even in childrens skates and is very pronounced in skates used by heavier persons.

The object of my invention'is to remedy this defect by a construction which is compact and by its great strength and rigidity meets the most severe practical require ments, and which, moreover, is thoroughly commercial requiring only a comparatively slightdeparture from what is now recognized as the commercial type of such skates.

To accomplish the ends above set forth, I provide a girder or beam of any desired construction'or cross section carried by one plate, extending lengthwise of the skate and sliding with respect to the other. In incorporating such a' girder into the skate,

I utilize the upper hanger stampings now employed, by increasing somewhat the depth of 'the space between their body portions and the under side of the respective plates to which they are attached, to form housings within one of which is riveted one end of the girder, and within the other of which the other end of the girder is mounted to As this girder I prefer to employ a channel beam and find a U-beam best suited to my purpose. The beam and hous ings are of similar cross-section. Clamping means to hold the parts in any desired adjustment is provided, and novel and eflicient means for this purpose will be hereinafter described.

My invention therefore consists in a skate having heel and toe plates slidable lengthwise with respect to each other, one of which carries a girder or beam shdable beneath the other, and clamping means for ing carried by the other plate, and means to clamp the said parts together, and in other features of construction set forth in the. claims.

The nature of the invention will more fully appear on reference to the drawings in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing the invention applied to a womans skate. Fig. 2 is a cross section through the rear truck on the line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the plate. girderand clamp. Fig. 4 is an incomplete cross section on the line 44, Fig. 1 showing the girder riveted within the upper hanger stamping. Fig. 5 is a top plan showing parts of the toe plate, heel plate and girder and illustrating the construction whereby the skate is made extensible. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a modification of the invention showing it applied to a mans skate. Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the heel plate and related parts showing another modification. Fig. 9 1s a cross section on the line 9-4), Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a cross section showing a slight modification of the structure illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is an incomplete longitudinal section showing details of the structure illustrated in Fig. 10.

In the practical application of the invention it has been necessary to bear in mind the trade requirement that the skate should have an extreme extension of 11% inches and the fact that the channel beam must not project beyond the back of the heel. plate. These considerations necessitate lengthening the hanger stamping in which the channel beam slides sufficiently to permit the requisite extension, and require that this increased length shall be toward the middle of the skate. In a womans skate, as shown in Fig. 1 the rear upper hanger stamping can readily be lengthened toward the front of the skate. There is also no difliculty in lengthening the front upper hanger stamping toward the rear of the skate, as in the modification illustrated in Fig. 6. The other modifications, z. e., those shown in Figs. 8 to 11 are designed to meet the difficulty which arises in mens skates where the channel beam is attached to the upper front hanger stamping. In extension skates as heretofore constructed, the heel clamping jaws and the double pitch screw operating bolt therefor have been placed directl in front of the upper hanger stamping o the rear truck so as to preclude extending the stamping toward the 'front of the skate. In the modifications referred to this difliculty is met in a way which will be more fully described hereinafter by dropping the operating bolt referred to below the extended portion of the rear upper hanger stamping.

With these preliminary observations I will proceed with the detailed description of the invention.

Referring -more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, 1 is the toe plate and 2 the heel plate slidable with respect thereto and having a forward extension 3 provided with a slot 4 for purposes of adjustment. To each of these lates is secured a truck which aside from c anges in the upper hanger stamping is substantially the present commercial construction. As usual the upper hanger stampings are substantially the same but differ slightly according to which is the one throu h which the plate extension slides, additiona room being left in this hanger stamping for that purpose. For convenience of reference, however, separate reference numerals will be given to the front upper hanger stamping and to the rear upper hanger stamping.

In the figures just referred to the front upper hanger stamping riveted to the toe plate is provided with a horizontal body portion 5 Fig. 4 and vertical side Walls 6 projecting upward thereupon forming with the body portion a housing in which the channel beam 7 is riveted at 8. This is preferably an inverted U beam having depending ver tical side flanges 9. From the vertical side walls 6 project outward horizontal extensions or wings 10 having their upper faces in the plane of the top of the beam, and hav ing vertical flanges 11 at their outer edges, portions of which serve as rivets 12. The height of these flanges is substantially the same as the thickness of the forward extension of the heel late so as to leave space between the toe p ateand the top of the channel beam and wings in which the said extension may fit and slide. This hanger stamping is provided at the front and rear of the body portion 5 with downwardly turned tabs 13 having alined holes 14. The rear upper hanger stamping Fig. 2 has a body portion 15, vertical side walls 16, horizontal wings 17 having vertical edge rivets 18, and down turned tabs 19 provided with alined holes 20. The housing is extended forward and 'no space is left between the win s and the bottom of the heel plate. It thus orms a housing in which the channel beam fits and slides.

The front and rear lower hanger stampings 21 are in the figures referred to reversed duplicates and are of the usual construction. They support the customary rubber cushions 22 and are pivotally secured to the upper hanger stampings by headed pins 23 in the usual way. They carry axles 24 on which are journaled the rollers 25.

Clamping means must be provided for retaining the expansible partsin the desired adjustment and these means must be simple and strong. The novel clamp herein illustrated is found particularly well suited to meet these requirements. It consists of. a screw bolt 26 carried by the channel beam 8. The head 27 of this screw bolt projects beyond the edges of the longitudinal slot 4 in the heel plate extension 3. The other member of the clamp is the nut 28 which extends across the bottom of the U beam and has its ends 29 upturned against the sides thereof, a lock nut 30 may be rovided. The tendency of the forward an rear parts of the skate in use is to pull apart and this tendency is most effectively withstood by the clamp described which grips the edges of the vertical flanges 9 of the channel beam, any movement of the sort referred to merely increasing the clamping action, since it tends to cause a turning or swivel action of the entire clamp.

The skate is provided with the customary means for clamping it to the shoe. In the womans skate shown in Fig. 1 a heel box 31 is employed; The toe clamps are of the usual construction and consist of clamping jaws 32 and a double pitch screw operating bolt 33 which is held against lengthwise movement by the customary fin 34 riveted to the toe plate and having its 'lower end proi')eclting into a reduced portion 35 of said In Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated a modification of the invention in which the channel beam is secured within the rear upper hanger stamping and slides in a housing formed by the front upper hanger stain ing which is extended to the rear suflicient to permit the desired extension. In this modification the toe plate 1 is provided with a rearward extension 3 provided with a lengthwise slot 4. This extension slides under the heel plate 2. The front upper housing is like the upper hanger above described having a body portion 5, which isrearwardly extended, vertical side walls 6, wings 10, which are held b the vertical edge rivets 12' against the un er side of the toe plate, and down turned tabs 13. The rear end of the channel beam 7 is secured by rivets 36 within the rear upper hanger ceases stamping which is like the corresponding hanger stampings above described having the body portion 15', the vertical side walls 16, the horizontal wings 17, the vertical edge flanges 11, the vertical edge rive'ts IQ and the down turned tabs 19.- This hanger stamping is of the usual length.

sisting of the removable clamping jaws. 37 having slots 38 and sliding on rivets 39. These. jaws are operated by a double pitch screw bolt 40 having a reduced portion 41' secured in a mans skate the channel beam 7 being arranged to slide in .a housing formed by the rear upper hanger stam ing. This hanger stamping is provided with a forwardly extended body portion 15 having vertical side walls 16 from the top of which extend outward horizontal wings 17. the edges of which are turned up vertically so that parts of them form edge rivets 18 by which the hanger stamping is secured to the heel plate. The upper hanger stamping is also provided with the down turned tabs 19. The lower hanger stamping is constructed as above described, but .may be somewhat longer. The upper and the lower hanger stampings, as in the construction above described, are secured together pivotally by the headed 23 which passes through the alined ho es in the various tabs.

-'Suitable means as a collar 43 on the in 23' 45 is provided to prevent the lower rear anger stamping from sliding endwise. The parts are so proportioned as to leave a space between the front tab of the lower hanger stamping and the corresponding tab of the upper hanger stamping, the operating bolt for "the heel clamp being dropped below the body portion of the upper hanger stamping so as to occupy part of this space. Except for-the changes in construction necessitated by this arrangement the clamping members are like those'already described consisting of removable clamping jaws 37. having slots 38' and sliding on rivets 39, these clamping jaws being controlled by a double. pitch screw operating bolt 40 coacting with screw threaded openings in the ends of the clampingjaws. This-bolt has a reduced portion 41' coacting with the pin 23 and preventing endwise movement of the bolt.

Immediately in front of it is the heel clamp con v A modification of the means for prevent ing endwise movement of this heel clamp operatin bolt is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 in w ich the body portion 15, of the upper hanger'stamping is provided with a downwardly stamped -tang 44 which :is shaped to embrace a reduced portion Q5 on the .bolt andthus prevent its endwise move ment.

It will be apparent that all the constructionsabove described utilize the principle of my invention and that they are simple and I racticable embodiments thereof. In all 0 theseconstructions'the channel beam secures the requisite rigidity without material alteration of other parts of the skate enabling it at the same time to meet the trade requirements as to the amount of rextension, etc.

- Although I prefer to makevthe trucks of sheet metal, since I consider this the best construction, I do not wish to be limited to it by the use of the term hanger stamp? ings, since I regard'-hanger stampings as equivalent to castings.

'. What I'claim asmy invention is:-

1. A roller skate comprising in combinationa toe late, a heel. plate, said plates being slidab y mounted with respect to each other, forward and rear trucks attached to said plates respectively, a-girder carried by one plate and sliding beneath the other, and clamping means for making the adjustment of the parts permanent.

2. A roller skate comprising in combination a toe plate, a heel plate, said plates being slidably mounted with respect to each other, forward and rear trucks attached to said plates respectively and com rising hanger stampings, a girder. carried y one late and sliding beneath the other in a housing formed by the hanger stamping attached thereto, and means for clamping to.- gether said plates and girder.

' 3. A roller skate comprising in combination, a toe plate,- a heel plate, a hanger stamping secured to each plate, a channel beam fastened within a housing formed by the hanger stamping on one plate, and leaving aspace between it and the said plate within which the other plate is mounted to slide, the other hanger stamping constituting a housing conformmg to the size and sha of the channel beam, and within which -t e channel beam is mounted to slide endwise, and means for clamping the parts together.

'4. A roller skate comprising, in combination, a toe plate, a heel plate, said plates being slidable lengthwise with respect to each other, a hangerstamping carried by each of saidlates; a U beam secured within one of said anger stampings and slidable within the other, and an edge clamp for securing the parts in adjusted position.

5. A roller skate comprising, in combination, a toe plate, a heel plate, said plates beof the plates to the beam comprising a' threaded bolt carried by one of said parts and a screw threaded nut extending across the bottom of the beam provided with up.- wardly extending ends coacting with the sides of the beam, the whole constituting an edge clamp for securing the parts in ad-- justed position.

6. A roller skate comprising in combination, a toe plate, a heel plate, one of said plates being provided with an extension lengthwise Qf the skate, a hanger stamping secured to theplate having the. extension and forming a housing, a hanger, stamping secured to the other plate and spaced therefrom to provide a space within which the extension of the other plate may slide, a channel beam secured within the last mentloned hanger stamping below the extension, the other end of said channel beam fitting Within the housing formed by the other hanger stamping andslidable therein, and clampmg means for securing the parts in the desired adjusted position. i

7. A roller skate comprising in combination, a toe plate, a heel plate having a forward extension mounted to slide beneath the toe plate, a hanger stamping carried by said toe plate and providing a space between itself and the bottom of the toe plate to accommodate the heel plate extension and constituting a housing, a channel beam fitting within the said housing and securedthereto, a forwardly extended hanger stamping secured to the heel plate and shaped to constitute a housing within which the end of the beam may fit and slide, and clamping means for securing the parts, in adjusted position.

8. A roller skate comprising in combination, a heel plate having a lengthwise extension, a toe plate beneath which said extension is mounted to slide, an upper hanger stamping secured to the toe plate, a channel beam having one end secured within the hanger stamping, a forwardl' extended upper hanger stamping secure to the under side of the heel plate and forming a housing within which one end of the channel beam is mounted to slide, heel clamping devices mounted on the heel plate, and means for operating the same mounted below the body of the upper hanger stamping.

9. A roller skate'comprising in combination, a toe plate, an upper hanger stamping secured to said toe plate and constituting a housing, a channel beam fitting-said housing and secured therein, a heel plate havin a forward extension slidable within said hanger stamping above the channel beam, a forwardly extended upper hanger stamping secured to the-heel plate and providing a housing within which the end of the channel beam may fit and slide, a lower hanger stamping pivotally secured to the rear upper hanger stamping and shorter than said upper hanger stamping, heel clamping jaws mounted to slide with respect to the heel plate, a double pitch-screw operating bolt therefor located beneath the body ofthe rear upper hanger stamping and in front of the forward end of the rear lower hanger stamping means to prevent the said bolt from movlng endwise, and clamping means for securing the partsin adjusted position.

10. A roller skate comprising in combination, a heel plate having a lengthwise extension, a toe plate beneath which said extension is mounted to slide, an upper hanger stamping secured to the toe plate, a channel beam having one end secured within the hanger stamping, a forwardly extended upper hanger stamping secured to the heel plate, and forming a housing of substantially the cross section of the channel beam and within which the same is mounted to slide, said hanger stamping being provided with downwardly turned tabs, a pivot pin passing through holes in said tabs, the front tab of the lower hanger stamping being in rear of the front .tab of the upper hanger stamping,clamping jaws mounted to slide with respect. to the heel plate, a double pitch screw operating bolt passing through said clamping jaws, mounted between the front tabs aforesaid and having a reduced central portion, a tang on the upper hanger stamping in contact with said reduced portion, and means for clamping the parts in adjusted "position. i

Signed by me at New York N. Y. the 30th day of June 1909.

HENRY P. VOSSELLER.

Witnesses:

H. G. KIMBALL, CLIFFORD H KLos. 

